Indicator for pastries and the like



May 26, 1931. BROAD 1,807,146

INDICATOR FOR PASTRIES AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. '10, 1927 Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STATES earner :o'rries WILLIAM BROAD, or BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, iissieiior. or rnaEE-FoUn'rns T HARRY n. MQLAIN, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA INDICATOR FOR PASTRIES AND. THE-LIKE Application filed December 10, 1327. Serial No. 239,246.

This invention relates to indicators for pastries and the like for use in enabling cutting of a pastry or the like into desired slices. It relates more particularly to such an indicator having means for indicating a number of equally spaced divisions at which a pastry may be cut.

Various means have been provided for cutting pastries into numbers of slices of equal size and for indicating upon the crusts or tops thereof numbers of equally spaced divisions at which they may subsequently be cut. Such devices have been attended with numerous disadvantages which it is the object of the present invention to overcome. They have for the most part been intricate in their construction and of relatively high cost as compared with their utility. They have been constructed to rest upon the top or crust of the pastry, thereby leaving undesirable impressions thereon. By reason of such contact with the pastry the device may become covered with the crust, meringue or icing, necessitating frequent washing.

I provide an indicator for pastries and the like adapted to be very cheaply manufactured and to efficiently and in a very simple manner facilitate the division therecomprises an indicating means and a member co-operable therewith for enabling cutting of the pastry into a number of slices of equal size or otherwise as may be desired.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an indicator;

Figure 2 is an elevation showing the indicator applied to a pie;

Figure 3 is a plan view to enlarged scale of the indicator dial; and

Figure 4 is a cross-section taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference niuneral 2 indicates generally a U-shaped strip metal frame having legs 3 and 4. Connected to the leg 4 is a dial 5.

This dial is provided with a plurality of series of divisions, each series indicating a number of equal slices into whch the pastry may be divided. The inner series has five equally spaced divisions located upon a circle 6; the intermediate series has. six. equally spaced divisions upon a circle and the outer series has seven equally spaced divisions upon a circle 8. The circles 6, 7 and S are concentric.

Pivoted to the dial 5 at the common center of the circles 6, Tand 8 is an indicator 9. This indicator is adapted to be rotated about the dial so that one of its edges may be successively positioned along the respective divisions of any desired series. The divisions are arranged to extend generally parallel to the right hand edge of the member 9, viewing Figure 1, so that such member may be exactly positioned to permit an indication at a desired point.

The indicator is applied to a pastry by placing the leg 3 of the U-shaped frame 2 underneath the pastry container so that the weight of the pastry and container rests thereupomthereby maintaining the indicator in position. The leg 4 off the frame e2;- tends upwardly a sufiicient distance so that it does not contact with the top or crust of the pastry. The dial is adjustedover the pastry so as to be located substantially centrally thereof. The frame 2 is of sufficient length so that the indicator may be used with pastries of different sizes. By reason of the frame bein'g of strip metal, it may be readily bent to adapt theindi'catorfor use with pastries of various shapes.

V In Figure 2 isshown a pie 10 in a container 11 resting upon a table 12'. When the indicator positioned as above described, the indicating member9 is successively moved to the divisions in desired circle to permit indication of the divisions where the pie is to be out. If it is desired to out the pie into five equal slices the inner circle of divisions is used; forsixslic'es of equal size, the central circle is used; and for seven the outer circle. The indicating member is first positioned along a desired division on the dial and a knife or other similar means guided along its u pastry.

edge to make an imprint in the pie where it may be cut.

If it is desired to cut the pastry into slices of different size, this may be readily accomplished by using the device first on one circle and then on another. For instance the pastry may be divided .into three sixths and four eighths. \Vhile the dial as shown is graduated for dividing av pastry into five, six and seven slices, respectively, of equal size, it is to be understood that the dial may be graduated for dividing a pastry into any number of slices desired, It is also to be understood that the indicator is adapted for use with articles other than pastries such, for instance, as puddings, ice'cream, and, in fact,any circular or substantially circular article of similar nature.

The width of the strip metal frame 2 need I be only sufficient to permit of its being held in place by the weight of the pastry without turning. The dial 5 and the indicating member 9 are stamped out of thin metal and riveted to the frame. Thus the indicator is of extremely simple construction and very cheaply manufactured. By reason of its being maintained out of contact with the pastry, it need not be washed frequently as is necessary with other types of dividers. Only the knife guided by the member 9 need come into contact with the pastry. The indicator takes up very little space and may be conveniently hung up on a hook or nail by means of the U-shaped frame 2.

While I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the same is not limited'to the form shown, but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an indicator for pastries and the like, i

a U-shaped frame having a dial on one leg and an indicator pivoted to the dial and cooperating therewith to indicate desired divisions for cutting a pastry.

2. In an indicator for pastries and the like, a strip metal frame having a portion adapted to extend under a pastry container and having another portion having indicating means thereon, the frame being adapted to be maintained in position by the weight of the 3; In an indicator for pastries and the like, a bendable support for positioning an indicating means over a pastry and means connected therewith for indicating desireddivi- V sions for cutting the pastry. v

have hereunto set In testimony whereof I my hand. a v WILLIAM BROAD. 

